JPH0478583A - Thermal transfer recording material and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the title recording material containing a heat-diffusible magenta dye having an excellent hue and excellent in solvent solubility and image stability by providing a layer containing a specific magenta dye on a support. CONSTITUTION:A thermal transfer recording material is formed by providing a thermal layer containing a magenta dye represented by general formula [I] on a support. The content of the magenta dye represented by the general formula [I] in the thermal layer is pref. 0.1-20g per 1m<2> of the support and the dry thickness of the thermal layer is pref. 0.1-5 mum. When the specific magenta dye is added to the thermal layer 5 of the thermal transfer recording material 6 consisting of the support 4 and the thermal layer 5, the magenta dye is diffused and transferred to an image receiving material by the heat from the heating resistor of a thermal head 8 and fixed to the image receiving layer 2 on the support 1. Since the specific heat-diffusible magenta dye is added to the thermal layer or hot melt layer of this thermal transfer recording material, a high density color image excellent in hue and image stability can be obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording material and a thermal transfer recording method, and more particularly, to a novel material containing a magenta dye having excellent hue and thermal diffusivity. The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording material and a thermal transfer recording method that can efficiently form high-density color images with excellent hue and image stability (image storage stability) using the thermal transfer recording material.

[Issues that conventional techniques and inventions attempt to solve! ili]
Conventionally, color recording technologies such as inkjet, electrophotographic, and thermal transfer methods have been considered as a method of obtaining color hard copies. Among them, thermal transfer methods are easy to operate and maintain, and are compact in size. It has advantages such as being able to reduce costs and having low running costs.

In this thermal transfer method, a transfer sheet (thermal transfer recording material) consisting of a heat-melt ink layer provided on a support is heated with a heat-sensitive head, and the ink is transferred from the heat-melt ink layer to the transfer sheet (image-receiving material). The transfer sheet, which has an ink layer containing a heat-diffusible dye (sublimable dye) on a support, is heated with a thermal head, and the heat-diffusible dye is transferred from the ink layer to the transfer sheet. There are two types of transfer: the thermal diffusion transfer method (sublimation transfer method), and the @'s thermal diffusion transfer method, which allows you to change the amount of dye transferred according to the thermal energy of the thermal head, and transfer one image. It is advantageous for full-color recording because the gradation can be controlled.

However, in the thermal diffusion transfer method, the dye used in the thermal transfer recording material is important, and the color tone of this dye has a great influence on the speed of thermal transfer recording, the image quality, and the storage stability of the image.

It is desirable that this type of dye has the following properties.

(a) Easily diffuses heat under heat-sensitive recording conditions (head temperature, heating time).

(b) It must have a favorable hue in terms of color reproduction.

(c) Do not thermally decompose at the heating temperature during recording.

(d) Good image stability (light resistance), heat resistance, moisture resistance, chemical resistance, etc.

(e) It has a large molar extinction coefficient.

(f) Easily added to thermal transfer recording materials.

(g) It should be easy to synthesize.

(h) Good solubility in solvents.

Conventionally, azomethine type magenta dyes have been known as heat-diffusible magenta dyes for thermal transfer recording materials.
No. 44, No. 60-130735, No. 64-6:1I9
No. 4.

It is disclosed in patent publications such as JP-A-1-176592.

These magenta dyes satisfy some of the conditions mentioned above, but some dyes have secondary absorption on the short wavelength side due to their absorption characteristics, making it impossible to obtain a satisfactory hue in terms of color reproduction.1 Image stability Problems such as poor properties and low solvent solubility remain.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems.

That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer recording material containing a heat-diffusible magenta dye having excellent hue, solvent solubility, and image stability, and to efficiently enhance color images using the material. It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer recording method capable of forming images with high density.

[Means for solving the problem] The present invention according to claim 1 for achieving the object,
This is a heat-sensitive transfer recording material characterized by having a layer containing a magenta dye represented by the following general formula [I] on a support.

In addition, the present invention according to claim 2 provides an image-receiving material which is superimposed on the layer of a heat-sensitive transfer recording material having a layer containing a magenta dye represented by the following general formula [I] on a support, This is a thermal transfer recording method characterized in that an image is formed on an image-receiving material by heating the material in accordance with image information and diffusing and transferring the dye to the image-receiving material side.

However, in the formula, R1 represents a monovalent group.

R2 represents a hydroxyl group or -N-R'.

R5 (However, R4 and R5 are alkyl groups that may be the same or different from each other, or atomic groups that combine with each other to form a 5- or 6-membered ring with one nitrogen atom.) R3 is a hydrogen atom or Represents a valence group.

Z represents an atomic group which together with two carbon atoms forms a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle.

m represents an integer from 1 to 4.

Hereinafter, general formula [I] will be further explained in detail.

The monovalent group represented by R1 is, for example, an alkyl group (eg, a methyl group, an ethyl group).

isopropyl group, tert-butyl group, etc.), cycloalkyl group (e.g., cyclopentyl group, cyclohexyl group, etc.), aryl group (e.g., phenyl group, etc.),
Aralkyl groups (e.g. benzyl group, 2-phenethyl group), alkoxy groups (e.g. methoxy group, ethoxy group,
Isopropoxy group.

n-butoxy group, etc.), aryloxy group (e.g., phenoxy group, etc.), cyano group, acylamino group (e.g., acetylamino group, propionylamino group, etc.), alkylthio group (e.g., methylthio group, ethylthio group,
n-butylthio group, arylthio group (e.g., phenylthio group, etc.), sulfonylamino group (e.g., methanesulfonylamino group, benzenesulfonylamino group, etc.)
, ureido group (e.g. 3-methylureido group, 3.3
-dimethylureido group (1,3-dimethylureido group, etc.), carbamoyl group (e.g. methylcarbamoyl group,
ethylcarbamoyl group, dimethylcarbamoyl group, etc.)
, sulfamoyl groups (e.g., ethylsulfamoyl group, dimethylsulfamoyl group, etc.), alkoxycarbonyl groups (e.g., methoxycarbonyl group, ethoxycarbonyl group, etc.), aryloxycarbonyl groups (e.g., phenoxycarbonyl group, etc.), sulfonyl groups (e.g. methanesulfonyl group, butanesulfonyl group, phenylsulfonyl group, etc.), acyl group (e.g. acetyl group,
(propanoyl group, butyroyl group, etc.), and amino groups (eg, methylamino group, ethylamino group, dimethylamino group, etc.).

Among them, preferred as R1 are an alkyl group, an aryl group, an acylamino group, a ureido group, and the like.

More preferably, R' has 1 to 5 carbon atoms, particularly 2 to 5 carbon atoms.
4 alkyl group, having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, especially 1 to 5 carbon atoms.
A phenyl group which may be substituted with the alkoxy group of 4,
A phenylamino group substituted with a halogen atom, an acylamino group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and 1 to 8 carbon atoms.
5 is a ureido group.

R2 represents a hydroxyl group or -N-R', and R4 and R5R5 are alkyl groups which may be the same or different, or bond to each other to form a 5- or 6-membered ring with one nitrogen atom. Represents a group of atoms.

As R4 and R5, -N HS 02 C)I
1 to 3 carbon atoms, which may have 3 or an alkoxy group
5 alkyl groups can be mentioned.

Preferred alkyl groups include -NH3OCH3, alkyl groups having 1 to 3 carbon atoms which may have a methoxy group or a hydroxyl group.

Preferred as the above atomic group when R4 and R5 are bonded to each other is that R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent group.

Examples of the -valent group include halogen atoms (eg, chlorine atom, fluorine atom, etc.) and the monovalent groups listed above for R1. Among the -valent groups, alkyl groups, acylamino groups, alkoxy groups, etc. are preferred, and methyl groups, acetylamino groups, methoxy groups, etc. are particularly preferred.

The above 2 represents a group of nonmetallic atoms that together with two carbon atoms form a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle.

As preferable 2, for example, Wear.

The m represents an integer of 1 to 4, preferably 1 or 2.

E, JiiJ R', R3, R', R5j; J:
The six groups represented by Z and Z may each have a substituent.

Examples of the substituent include a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom (for example, a chlorine atom, a fluorine atom, etc.), an alkyl group (for example, a methyl group, an ethyl group, an isopropyl group, etc.).
-butyl group, etc.), cycloalkyl group (e.g., cyclopentyl group, cyclohexyl group, etc.), aryl group (e.g., phenyl group), alkenyl group (e.g., 2-propenyl group, etc.), aralkyl group (e.g., pencil group, 2-
phenethyl group, etc.), alkoxy groups (e.g., methoxy group, ethoxy group, isopropoxy group, n-butoxy group, etc.), aryloxy groups (e.g., phenoxy group, etc.),
Cyano group, acylamino group (e.g. acetylamino group, propionylamino group, etc.), alkylthio group (e.g. methylthio group, ethylthio group, n-butylthio group, etc.), arylthio group (e.g. phenylthio group, etc.)
, sulfonylamino groups (e.g., methanesulfonylamino group, benzenesulfonylamino group, etc.), ureido groups (e.g., 3-methylureido group, 3,3-dimethylureido group, 1,3-dimethylureido group, etc.), carbamoyl groups (e.g. methylcarbamoyl group, ethylcarbamoyl group, dimethylcarbamoyl group, etc.), sulfamoyl group (e.g. ethylsulfamoyl group, dimethylsulfamoyl group, etc.), alkoxycarbonyl group (e.g. methoxycarbonyl group, ethoxycarbonyl group, etc.), aryloxycarbonyl group groups (e.g., phenoxycarbonyl group, etc.), sulfonyl groups (e.g., methanesulfonyl group, butanesulfonyl group, phenylsulfonyl group, etc.), acyl groups (e.g., acetyl group, propanoyl group, butyroyl group, etc.), amino groups (methylamino group, ethyl group, etc.). (amino group, dimethylamino group, etc.), nitro group, etc.

A specific representative example of the magenta dye represented by the general formula [I] is shown in FIG.

The magenta dyes represented by the general formula CI], that is, the magenta dyes according to the present invention, are all azomethine-type dyes with one heat-diffusible hue and excellent solvent solubility.

In addition, "thermal diffusion" as used in the present invention refers to the diffusion and/or transfer of substantially the dye alone in a gas, liquid, or solid state depending on the thermal energy when heating a thermal transfer recording material. This is essentially the same meaning as "sublimation transfer" among those skilled in the art.

The magenta dye according to the present invention has the following general formula [■
] and a compound represented by the following general formula [ml] can be produced by oxidative coupling in alkaline conditions in the presence of an oxidizing agent.

(However, R1 and Z in the general formula [■] are the general formula [I
] has the same meaning as defined in . ) (However, R2 and R3 in the general formula [ml have the same meaning as defined in the general formula [I] above.) This oxidative coupling reaction is preferably carried out under alkaline conditions, and the reaction mass is Any of organic solvents, aqueous organic solvents, and aqueous solutions may be used.

In addition, as an oxidizing agent, the general formula [
m] may be used as long as it has a potential capable of oxidizing the compound represented by m], such as silver halide, hydrogen peroxide, manganese dioxide, potassium persulfate, inorganic oxidizing agents such as oxygen, N-bromosuccinimide, and chloramine. It is also possible to use an organic oxidizing agent such as T.

In addition to the above-mentioned synthesis method, the yellow dye according to the present invention can be produced by
It is also possible to produce it by electrode reaction.

When relying on this electrode reaction, current, voltage, supporting electrolyte,
It is necessary to appropriately select solvents, electrodes, etc.

The heat-sensitive transfer recording material of the present invention comprises a layer containing a magenta dye represented by the general formula CIE (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a heat-sensitive layer) on a support.

The content of the dye in the heat-sensitive layer is preferably 0.1 to 20 g per ml of support.

The heat-sensitive layer is formed by dissolving one or more of the dyes in a solvent together with a binder, or by dispersing one or more of the dyes together with a binder in the form of fine particles in a solvent. It can be formed by preparing a coating material, applying the coating material onto a support, and drying it appropriately.

The thickness of the heat-sensitive layer is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 57 zm in dry film thickness.

The binder includes water-soluble polymers such as cellulose, polyacrylic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyvinylpyrrolidone, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyether sulfone, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetal, and nitrocellulose. , ethylcellulose, and the like.

These binders may be used not only by dissolving one or more of them in an organic solvent, but also by dispersing them in a latex form.

The amount of binder used is 0 per rrr' of support.
．． 1 to 50 g is preferred.

Solvents for preparing the paint include water, alcohols (e.g. ethanol, propatool), cellosolves (e.g. ethyl acetate), aromatics (e.g. toluene, xylene, chlorobenzene), ketones (e.g. acetone, methyl ethyl ketone). , ethers (eg, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane), chlorinated solvents (eg, chloroform, trichlorethylene), and the like.

The support may be one that has good one-dimensional stability and can withstand the heat of the thermal head during recording, but thin paper such as condenser paper or glassine paper, or heat-resistant materials such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, or polycarbonate may be used. A plastic film is preferably used.

The thickness of the support is preferably 2 to 301 Lm, and the support may have a subbing layer for the purpose of improving adhesion to the binder and preventing transfer and dyeing of the dye to the support.

Further, a slipping layer may be provided on the back surface of the support (the side opposite to the heat-sensitive layer) for the purpose of preventing the head from adhering to the support.

The heat-sensitive transfer recording material of the present invention has a heat-sensitive layer on which the heat-sensitive transfer recording material is coated.
It may have a heat-fusible layer containing a heat-fusible compound as described in Japanese Patent No. 106997.

As this heat-melting compound, a colorless or white compound having a melting point of 65 to 130°C is preferably used,
For example, waxes such as carnauba wax, beeswax, campli wax, higher fatty acids such as stearic acid and behenic acid,
Examples include alcohols such as xylitol, amides such as acetamide and benzamide, and ureas such as phenylurea and diethylurea.

Note that these heat-melting layers may contain polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl butyral, and saturated polyester, in order to improve dye retention.

According to the thermal transfer recording material of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a magenta dye image with gradation using one type of dye, as described later.However, in order to make a thermal transfer recording material capable of recording a full color image, thermal diffusion A total of three layers, a cyan heat-sensitive layer containing a thermodiffusible cyan dye, a magenta heat-sensitive layer containing a heat-diffusible magenta dye according to the present invention, and a yellow heat-sensitive layer containing a heat-diffusible yellow dye, are placed on the same surface of the support. It is preferable to apply the coating repeatedly in sequence.

Furthermore, eight layers containing a black image-forming substance may be added to the above three layers, so that a total of four layers are repeatedly coated on the same surface of the support.

In the heat-sensitive transfer recording method of the present invention, a heat-sensitive layer or a heat-fusible layer of a heat-sensitive transfer recording material and an image-receiving material are superimposed, heat is applied to the heat-sensitive transfer recording material according to image information, and the heat-sensitive layer or heat-fusible layer of a heat-sensitive transfer recording material is An image is formed on the image-receiving material by transferring and fixing the magenta dye from the layer to the image-receiving material.

To explain this thermal transfer recording method with drawings, in FIG. is diffused and transferred to the image-receiving material 3 by heat from the heating resistor of the thermal head 8, for example, and is fixed in the image-receiving layer 2 on the support l.

In addition, in the case of FIG. 2 (b) using a heat-sensitive transfer recording material in which a heat-fusible layer is laminated on a heat-sensitive layer, when the heat-sensitive layer 5 contains the magenta dye, this magenta dye generates heat in the thermal head 8. The heat from the resistor diffuses and transfers to the heat-fusible layer 9, causing cohesive failure or interfacial peeling of part or all of the heat-fusible layer 9a containing the magenta dye, and transferring to the image-receiving material 3.

Further, even when the magenta dye is contained in the heat-fusible layer 9 from the beginning, an image is formed on the image-receiving material 5 side using the same principle as shown in FIG. 2(b).

The image-receiving material used in the present invention generally uses paper, plastic film, or a paper-plastic film composite as a support, and the image-receiving layer is formed on the support by polyester resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, vinyl chloride, or other materials. - (for example, vinyl acetate, etc.), one or more polymer layers such as polyvinyl butyral, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polycarbonate, etc. are formed.

Further, the support itself may be used as an image-receiving material.

The image receiving layer may contain a basic compound and/or a mordant.

The basic compound is not particularly limited whether it is inorganic or organic, but for example, calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium acetate, alkylamine, arylamine, etc. can be used.

In addition, as a mordant, a compound having a tertiary amino group,
Examples include compounds having a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group, or compounds having these quaternary cation groups.

[Examples] Next, the present invention will be specifically explained based on Examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

(Example 1) Preparation of a paint - The following raw materials were mixed to obtain a uniform solution paint containing a heat-diffusible magenta dye.

Heat-diffusible magenta dye M-1 (see Figure 1) 10 g Nitrocellulose 15 g Methyl ethyl ketone 200 ml l- Preparation of thermal transfer recording material - The above paint was applied onto a polyethylene terephthalate film (support) with a thickness of 4.5 Bm using a wire bar so that the coating amount after drying was 1.0 g/m2, and dried. A thermal transfer recording material was obtained.

Note that a nitrocellulose layer containing a silicone-modified urethane resin (SP-2105, manufactured by Dainichishin Chemical Co., Ltd.) is provided on the back surface of the polyethylene terephthalate film as an anti-sticking layer.

1. Preparation of image-receiving material - Polyethylene layers are laminated on both sides of paper, and on one side of the polyethylene layer, 0.0% silicone oil is applied as an image-receiving layer. ] 5 g/m2 of vinyl chloride resin.
m'' to obtain an image-receiving material.

Note that the polyethylene layer on one side contains an optimal white pigment (T+Ot) and a blue tint.

1. Thermal Transfer Recording Method 1. The above-mentioned heat-sensitive transfer recording material and the above-mentioned image-receiving material are stacked so that the coated surface of the heat-sensitive transfer recording material and the image-receiving surface of the image-receiving material face each other, and a thermal head is inserted from the anti-sticking layer side of the heat-sensitive transfer recording material. The image was recorded by hitting the target.

The measurement results of the maximum reflection density, absorption characteristics (secondary absorption on the short wave side), and image stability (iFt optical properties) of the obtained image were measured as follows.
Shown in the table.

The table also shows the results of the solubility of the magenta dye in the solvent.

The recording conditions and measurement method described above are as shown below.

Line density of main scanning and sub-scanning: 8 dots/mm recording
Voltage: 0.5 W/dot head heating time: 20 m5ec (applied energy approximately 11.2 x 10-'J
) to 0.2m5ec (applied energy approximately 1.12X
The heating time was adjusted stepwise between 10-'J).

Maximum reflection density (D,...) Measured using an optical densitometer [PC^-65 model manufactured by Konica Corporation.

Absorption characteristics: Comparative example 1 (described in !) was designated as a standard Δ, and those with high chroma by visual observation and those with low O1 were designated as ×.

Image stability: Evaluated by irradiating samples for 96 hours with a xenon fade meter.

Solvent solubility.

The solubility of the dye in methyl ethyl ketone was investigated during the preparation of the paint.

(Examples 2 to 8) Magenta dyes M-2, M-5, M-9, M-11°M-17, M instead of magenta dye M-1 in Example 1
A heat-sensitive transfer recording material and an image-receiving material were prepared under the same conditions as in Example 1, except that -19 and M-20 (see Figure 1 for both) were used, respectively, and images were formed in the same manner. .

Table 1 shows the maximum reflection density, absorption characteristics (secondary absorption on the short wavelength side), image stability (light resistance), and solvent solubility of the dye of the obtained image.

(Comparative Example 1.2) In place of the magenta dye M-1 in Example 1, the following 2
A heat-sensitive transfer recording material and an image-receiving material were produced under the same conditions as in Example 1, except that comparative dyes A and B were used, respectively, and images were formed in the same manner.

Table 1 shows the measurement results of the maximum reflection density, absorption characteristics (secondary absorption on the short wavelength side), image stability (lFt optical properties), and solvent solubility of the dye of the obtained image.

Comparative dye A: Comparative dye B: Note) 08 good condition Δ: Slightly poor.

X: Defective.

As is clear from Table 1, in each of the Examples, it is possible to obtain a magenta image with higher density and excellent hue and image stability than in each Comparative Example.

Moreover, since the magenta dye used in each example has good solubility in a solvent, it is possible to produce a heat-sensitive transfer recording material with high productivity, that is, to produce it efficiently.

(Example 9) As shown in FIG.
Yellow thermosensitive M12 on top. A magenta heat-sensitive layer 13 and a cyan heat-sensitive layer I4 were sequentially coated to produce a heat-sensitive transfer recording material.

Note that 15 is an anti-sticking layer provided on the back surface of the support 11.

However, the magenta heat-sensitive layer 13 has the same structure as in Example 1, and the structures of the yellow heat-sensitive layer 12 and the cyan heat-sensitive layer 14 are as shown below.

-Yellow thermosensitive layer 12- Binder: Polyvinyl butyral, attached amount 0.9g/
m2 Yellow dye has the following structure.

Cyanide heat-sensitive layer 14 - Binder: nitrocellulose, coating amount 0.9 g/m2 Cyan dye has the following structure. Coating amount 0.6 g/m2 The above thermal transfer recording material and Example 1 When thermal transfer was performed using a video printer (manufactured by Hitachi, VY-100) using the same image-receiving material, a full-color image with good gradation, color reproducibility, and image stability was obtained.

(Example 1) P-) as an intermediate layer on the thermal transfer recording material of Example 9
- 100ml of an aqueous solution containing 5g of ball mill dispersion Th of toluamide, 7g of polyvinylpyrrolidone, 3g of gelatin, and 0.3g of the following hardener is coated with 0.5g of P-toluamide.
/m".

Hardener: Antioxidant: Na Furthermore, as a heat-fusible layer on the intermediate layer, the following ultraviolet inhibitor (coating amount: 0.1 g/m2) and the following antioxidant (
Coating amount: 0.1 g/m”) and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (vinyl acetate content: 20% by weight, coating amount: 0.2 g
/m2) containing carvanawa wax (coating amount 0.2 g/m2)
) was coated using a hot melt coating method to produce a heat-sensitive transfer recording material.

Ultraviolet inhibitor: Kano C, 09 (t) Using this heat-sensitive transfer recording material and plain white paper as an image-receiving material, heat-sensitive transfer was performed using a video printer in the same manner as in Example 9.

As a result, a full-color image with excellent color reproducibility and gradation was obtained.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the heat-sensitive transfer recording material of the present invention, by adding a specific heat-diffusible magenta dye to the heat-sensitive layer or the heat-fusible layer,
High-density color images with excellent hue and image stability can be obtained.

Further, according to the thermal transfer recording method of the present invention, since the above-mentioned thermal transfer recording material is used, an image having the above characteristics can be efficiently formed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the structural formula of a typical magenta dye according to the present invention. FIGS. 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams showing the principle of the thermal transfer recording method of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an example of the thermal transfer recording medium of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Support, 2...Image receiving layer, 3...Image receiving material,
4...Support, 5...Thermosensitive layer. 6... Thermal transfer recording material, 8... Thermal head,
9... Heat-fusible layer, 10... Heat-sensitive transfer recording material,
11...Support, 12...Yellow thermosensitive layer, 13
...Magenta heat-sensitive layer, 14...Cyan heat-sensitive layer, 15
...Anti-sticking layer.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A thermal transfer recording material characterized by having a layer containing a magenta dye represented by the following general formula [I] on a support. ▲There are mathematical formulas, chemical formulas, tables, etc.▼ [I] [In the formula, R^1 represents a monovalent group. R^2 is a hydroxyl group or ▲There are numerical formulas, chemical formulas, tables, etc.▼Indicate. (However, R^4 and R^5 are alkyl groups that may be the same or different, or are atomic groups that combine with each other to form a 5- or 6-membered ring with one nitrogen atom.) R^3 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent group. Z represents an atomic group which together with two carbon atoms forms a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle. m represents an integer from 1 to 4. ] (2) An image-receiving material is superimposed on the layer of a heat-sensitive transfer recording material having a layer containing a magenta dye represented by the general formula [I] on a support, and the heat-sensitive transfer recording material is used to convey image information. 1. A thermal transfer recording method, characterized in that an image is formed on an image-receiving material by heating in accordance with the temperature of the image-receiving material and diffusing and transferring the dye to the image-receiving material.